Back to basics

As nurses, we are constantly bombarded by new technology, disguised as adjuncts to patient assessments. These are often time consuming, carrying us further away from our prime responsibility--our client. In this paper I hope to reacquaint ourselves with the most valuable assessment "tool" we possess and expand on how we can use it in our daily care. This tool is portable, has a long life span and has the capacity for increasing its capabilities. It is continuously upgraded, evaluated and calibrated. You've guessed by now--ourselves; our education, experience and problem solving abilities. To use this resource to its greatest potential requires a sound knowledge of neurological assessment and the ability to recognize abnormalities.